Jackson “Butch” Guice, known for his work on a wide range of titles from The Micronauts, X-Force, Winter Soldier, Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, and Doctor Strange at Marvel to The Flash, Birds of Prey, and Action Comics at DC has passed. The co-creator of the X-Men villain Apocalypse was 63 and had recently been dealing with health issues.

“Butch is gone,” artist Kelley Jones posted on Facebook. “I’ll only add that Butch Guice saw something in me that I didn’t way back in 1982. I couldn’t trust myself that I had what it took to make comics so Butch said trust him and I did. He insisted I follow him as the penciller on The Micronauts when he left the title. For the next couple months he would take time from his new gig, and help me figure out how to draw a monthly book. Butch’s advice and instruction on that matter I use to this day. God, the talent he possessed! A quiet force of nature with a dry hysterically funny wit and more talent than just about anyone who’s made comic books. But it was his kind heart I will most be striving to follow. I will miss you, brother.”

“Very sad to hear that one of my favorite artists – and people – Jackson ‘Butch’ Guice has passed away,” former DC editor Mike Carlin posted. “I’ve known and worked with Butch for over 40 years at both Marvel and DC (X-Factor, The Dazzler and Action Comics). A truly great artist and an even greater guy.

Guice’s work was not confined to the big two. He had noteworthy stints on Eternal Warrior at Valiant, Winterworld at IDW, Ruse at CrossGen, and The Futurists for Allegiance. He illustrated the Winter Soldier for the cover of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #52 and Spider-Man 2099 for the cover of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide to Lost Universes #2.

“Of all the artists I ever worked with, few were as accomplished and smooth across all genres, characters and story concepts as Butch Guice. He had the incredibly ability to make the characters, settings and subject matter feel as though he’d been drawing it for years and was totally comfortable with anything that could possibly be put in front of him. That’s a rare and remarkable skill,” writer-artist Dan Jurgens posted. “Butch was great to collaborate with and even better to know.”

In recent times, Guice posted examples of art he loved from comic books and comic strips, providing examples of excellent storytelling from artists who had influenced him.

“He was a wealth of information and historian of the comic book, and comic strip business. I will miss his posts and talks about classic art,” writer-artist Graham Nolan said.

Our condolences go out to his wife, Julie, and daughter, Elizabeth Diane, as well as to his extended family, friends, and many fans.